Polyphase Energy Converter for Outputting Electrical Energy

Abstract

An energy converter includes a plurality of converter sections each comprising at least one first converter cell module and one second converter cell module. The first and second converter cell modules each contain at least one converter cell and one coupling unit. The at least one converter cell of the converter cell modules is connected between a first input and a second input of the coupling unit, and the coupling unit is designed to connect the at least one converter cell between a first terminal of the converter cell module and a second terminal of the converter cell module in response to a first control signal, and to connect the first terminal to the second terminal in response to a second control signal. The disclosure also relates to a motor vehicle having an energy converter such as this, and to a method for supplying an electrical drive system.

1 . An energy converter for outputting electrical energy, having comprising:
 a plurality of converter sections, each converter section including at least one first converter cell module and one second converter cell module,   wherein the first and second converter cell modules each comprise at least one converter cell and one coupling unit,   wherein the at least one converter cell is connected between a first input and a second input of the coupling unit and the coupling unit is configured to connect the at least one converter cell between a first terminal of the converter cell module and a second terminal of the converter cell module in response to a first control signal, and to connect the first terminal to the second terminal in response to a second control signal,   wherein the at least one converter cell of the first converter cell modules is connected in a first polarity between the first input and the second input of the coupling unit of the respective first converter cell module and the at least one converter cell of the second converter cell modules is connected in a second polarity, which is opposite to the first polarity, between the first input and the second input of the coupling unit of the respective second converter cell module.   
     
     
         2 . The energy converter as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a control unit, which is configured to output the first control signal to the at least one first converter cell module of one converter section and to output the second control signal to the at least one second converter cell module of the one converter section during a first period and to output, in a second period following the first period, the second control signal to the at least one first converter cell module of the one converter section and to output the first control signal to the at least one second converter cell module of the one converter section, and thus to set an output voltage for the converter section to have a first arithmetic sign during the first period and to have a second arithmetic sign, which is opposite to the first arithmetic sign, during the second period.   
     
     
         3 . The energy converter as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 each converter section has a plurality of first converter cell modules and a plurality of second converter cell modules, and   the control unit is configured to set a sinusoidal output voltage for each converter section.   
     
     
         4 . The energy converter as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the control unit is configured to set the sinusoidal output voltage to have a predefinable frequency. 
     
     
         5 . The energy converter as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein:
 the control unit is configured to set a sinusoidal output voltage for each of the converter sections, and   the output voltage is out of phase relative to the sinusoidal output voltages of the respective other converter sections.   
     
     
         6 . The energy converter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling unit has a first output and is configured to connect either the first input or the second input to the first output in response to the first control signal. 
     
     
         7 . The energy converter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling unit has a first output and a second output and is configured to connect the first input to the first output and the second input to the second output in response to the first control signal, and to disconnect the first input from the first output and the second input from the second output and to connect the first output to the second output in response to the second control signal. 
     
     
         8 . The energy converter as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the converter cells are battery cells or solar cells. 
     
     
         9 . A motor vehicle comprising:
 an electric drive motor configured to drive the motor vehicle; and   an energy converter, which is connected to the electric drive motor and is configured to output electrical energy,   wherein the energy converter includes a plurality of converter sections, each converter section including at least one first converter cell module and one second converter cell module,   wherein the first and second converter cell modules each comprise at least one converter cell and one coupling unit,   wherein the at least one converter cell is connected between a first input and a second input of the coupling unit and the coupling unit is configured to connect the at least one converter cell between a first terminal of the converter cell module and a second terminal of the converter cell module in response to a first control signal, and to connect the first terminal to the second terminal in response to a second control signal, and   wherein the at least one converter cell of the first converter cell modules is connected in a first polarity between the first input and the second input of the coupling unit of the respective first converter cell module and the at least one converter cell of the second converter cell modules is connected in a second polarity, which is opposite to the first polarity, between the first input and the second input of the coupling unit of the respective second converter cell module.   
     
     
         10 . A method for supplying power to an electric drive system comprising:
 connecting an energy converter to an electric drive system; and   setting an output voltage for the energy converter to have a first arithmetic sign during a first period and to have a second arithmetic sign, which is opposite to the first arithmetic sign, during a second period,   wherein the energy converter is configured to output electrical energy,   wherein the energy converter includes a plurality of converter sections, each converter section including at least one first converter cell module and one second converter cell module,   wherein the first and second converter cell modules each comprise at least one converter cell and one coupling unit,   wherein the at least one converter cell is connected between a first input and a second input of the coupling unit and the coupling unit is configured to connect the at least one converter cell between a first terminal of the converter cell module and a second terminal of the converter cell module in response to a first control signal, and to connect the first terminal to the second terminal in response to a second control signal, and   wherein the at least one converter cell of the first converter cell modules is connected in a first polarity between the first input and the second input of the coupling unit of the respective first converter cell module and the at least one converter cell of the second converter cell modules is connected in a second polarity, which is opposite to the first polarity, between the first input and the second input of the coupling unit of the respective second converter cell module.